Description

Summary:

The Director of Corporate Relations is a key member of the MSU Business Connect team, a hub for corporate engagement. The Director manages an independent portfolio of corporate relationships and is accountable for advancing these partnerships toward productive outcomes with specific emphasis on outcomes relating to research activity including sponsored research collaborations, start up and commercialization opportunities, access to university labs/cores and institutes. This role will also support the broader university ecosystem by partnering with other offices to facilitate student hiring and internships, professional training, advisory board participation, and other activities aligned with corporate needs and university strengths. This role includes assisting in early-stage negotiation of mutually beneficial contract terms and requires building a strong internal network across colleges, research units, and administrative partners to ensure coordinated and consistent engagement with industry.

The Director plays a strategic role in advancing MSU’s research mission by serving as the primary liaison to industry leaders, fostering collaborations that drive innovation, secure external funding, and translate academic research into real world impact. By aligning corporate interests with MSU’s research capabilities, the Director cultivates, maintains, and expands long term partnerships while ensuring timely handling of complex agreements that enhance trust and accelerate collaboration.

Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, and a deep commitment to relationship building both internally and externally, and strong negotiation and organizational abilities. The Director works closely with faculty, deans, administrative partners, and corporate research executives to advance shared objectives.

This hybrid position requires at least three days per week on campus and may involve occasional travel to on campus and off-site locations. The position reports directly to the Executive Director of MSU Business Connect. 

Responsibilities:  

• 20% –Corporate Engagement Strategy & Market Intelligence 
  Oversee execution of corporate engagement plans across the university’s research domain. 
  Identifyemerging industry trends and opportunities to align institutional capabilities with corporate needs.
• 50% –Executive Relationship Management & Strategic Partnership Development 
  Build andmaintainexecutive levelrelationships with corporate leaders, decision makers, and external stakeholders. 
  Lead strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts to expand the number, scale, and duration of partnerships. Serve as the primary point of contact for major corporate partners. Represent the institution at industry events, conferences, and networking forums.
• 10% –Internal Collaboration & Ecosystem Coordination 
  Maintain strong internal relationships with key ecosystem partners, including select schools, colleges, units, Advancement, MSU Technologies, and the MSU Research Foundation. Coordinate with licensing managers in MSU Technologies to ensure consistent practices with companies and faculty, maximizing the commercial value of university assets.
• 20% –Contract Negotiation & Business Opportunity Development 
  In partnership with BC administration and others,assistwith negotiating contract terms that support university goals and create business opportunities aligned with cost/benefit considerations. 
  

Technical Skills: 
Proficiency with use of a computer, MS Office suite, Adobe, conferencing software (Zoom/Teams), Wrike. 

Soft Skills: 
 Effective verbal and written communication skills, collaboration, time-management, negotiation, adaptability, ability to balance competing priorities, and interact effectively with a wide variety of people. 
 
To Apply:  
The position remains open to accept candidates through Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 11:55pm. Interested applicants can apply via the Careers@MSU site - Posting 1144448 - Director of Corporate Relations . Please submit a cover letter and resume with your application.  

Requirements

Minimum Requirements: 
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, physical or life sciences, communications, public relations, marketing or related discipline; 8 or more years of experience in community relations, event management, or special project development; demonstrated effective and creative writing skills; working comfort with social media. 

Desired Qualifications: 
Masters or Doctorate degree in business, engineering or the sciences; Ten years of working experience in business development, corporate relations, government relations with the majority of experience working within a university environment; At least five years of experience in private sector research and development; Familiarity with the principles of contracting frameworks, with specific emphasis on knowledge of Intellectual Property best practices.